| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Kettle Ponds, Abol Pond, ME |
|
 | Trails: |
Kettle Pond Trail, Abol Stream Trail, Appalachian Trail, Abol Pond Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, August 12, 2023 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I parked just shy of Abol Beach Picnic Area where there’s a small parking area for a few cars just south of Kettle Pond and Abol Pond Trail. A day pass in BSP is free to ME residents, $16 for non-residents, and $42 for a season pass. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Although the guidebook doesn’t explicitly say so, the trail crosses Abol Stream and could be difficult in high water. Indeed, on this day it was most definitely not rock hopable with dry feet. I rock hoped on submerged rocks with my crocs and the water stayed below my knee. That said, if you waded through at its lowest point and didn’t rock hop, I think the water would have been significant higher. Poles obviously came in handy. Beyond this, I think there wasn’t anything that wasn’t unabridged other than a very tiny stream crossing on Kettle Pond Trail. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Old light blue blaze on Kettle Pond Trail. Don’t recall frequency but not hard to follow. Abol Stream and Abol Pond trails were blazed in newer blue. There were also occasional old looking ski symbols on a few of the trees on a couple of these trails. The sign for Abol Pond Trail that I believe was somewhere near the jct with Blueberry Ledges Trail could be replaced. Just east of where Kettle Pond Trail crosses Park Tote Rd, there were 3 easty and small blowdowns (2 stepover, one duck under). About 10min east, there was another small-mid sized stepover that was easy. 5min later there was a small stepover underneath a small-mid sized duck under that hadn’t been totally delimbed and thus was kind of tricky. A few mins later I came across two small-mid sized blowdowns that could be stepped over but hadn’t really been delimbed. A few mins afterward, there’s a small leaner/duck under. A very small stepover was seen just afterward followed by another very small straddled/stepover a few mins later, followed by a mid-sized leaner/duck under almost immediately afterward. Other than what I think was some bridge building supplies on Abol Stream Trail, I don’t recall any obstructions on either that or Abol Pond Trail. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dogs are not allowed in BSP. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Mosquitos were AWFUL on Kettle Ponds Trail. By far the worst I’ve seen in the park on this trip. Must be the ponds. They were not as bad on the other two trails. Ticks seem very, very rare this far north. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
None |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
2nd hike of the day on our 2nd day in Millinocket. I began by hiking an OAB on the section of Kettle Pond Trail I hadn’t done earlier with my folks when doing a Rum Pond - Cranberry Pond loop/car spot. Mosquitos were awful there and many small but easy blowdowns. Mostly flat but a little more gain than Rum Pond and Cranberry Pond trails. I don’t recall the ground conditions but I’d imagine that despite it mostly being pleasant walking, there were still significant mud pits.
After completing Kettle Pond Trail, I walked across the street to Abol Pond Trail and noted that the water crossing would require getting rather wet. So I walked the couple hundred feet back to the road, then hiked the loop clockwise instead, redlining Abol Stream Trail first. Abol Stream Trail was very flat. Cool to be along the AT and pass by Blueberry Ledges Trail again but this time without snow on the ground! Abol Pond Trail had slightly more gain but was pleasant and pretty easy walking. I don’t recall the ground conditions well but I’d assume there were still significant muddy areas. Gaia had me at 7mi, 150-175ft of gain, 2hr35min. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
|
 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2023-08-21 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
|
